Politics Never Rests
In Proteros, a street a few hundreds of meters from the SCJ building.
“So, did you see it?” - “Yeah, baby.” - “Crazy, right? And we were just talking about him the day before it. Isn't it creepy?” - “I guess it was true, after all…” - “When do you think there will be a trial?” - “Dunno dude, I'm busy trying to keep my knees off the floor to get a job there to care about some random traitor and a suspicious president.” - “That's sooo crazy, o-my-heavens! Can you imagine?” - “Yeaaah… but now he kinda cute, though?” - “Haha, yaaass~!”
The people passed by the sidewalks, talking out loud bout the crazy things happening around them. This couldn’t be helped. When did the SCJ ever become so noticeable? While it was known and a topic at every school, it was seemed as if it remained closed doors always.
As a couple of a young man and woman, a pair of pals, some girly girls being girly as friends, and more, walked by from one side or the other, a redheaded woman ate a lonche. She ate it with tranquility, pacing each bite, and munching many times before passing it down.
Her face was calm as she looked around her. She always did this. But now she knew this might very well be the last time she could, in peace. It was still early morning, but the gray sky brought some light down.
As always, she looked around while munching, as if she didn’t have a care in the world, and so at ease not even the world destroying itself would make her bat an eye. After passing another mouthful down, she took the last 3 bites from her lonche at once and wrapped the paper left behind. As she munched, she looked down at it, noticing it was all over and she had to return.
She remained sitting there, looking at her surroundings, although she sat on her bench facing towards the building just a dozen meters away, with people walking in between, instead of the streets. She took her WID out and used it before relaxing, finishing her last munches from her large mouthful and passing it down. Then, she took her phone out and checked the time.
Putting it back into her bag, she stared at her surroundings, turning her head left and right, wide. After 7 minutes, she stood up and walked to the SCJ building in the distant. It was so tall and mighty-looking even from this medium-long distance.
Only when she looked at it did some life come to her eyes. Vanessa Valyer had just stood up, but some people around the same block, and others, and the capital city, and Proteros; received the same messages.
“The trial is today? Oh- holy shit, hahaha!” - “Woah, that’s… that feels weird.” - “Is he here then? He should have arrived, right?” - “Maybe he met with the president or the ministers already?” - “Woah! I wonder how this will unfold, so exciting!” - “it’s just another dude’s trial for his crimes. Pipe it down, fangirl.” - “You jealous babe~?” - “Of course! You moron!” - “Aww pouts.”
Vanessa Valyer kept walking, unnoticed. But that changed when she was just 3 crossroads away from the SCJ building.
“Hey, isn’t that… the… ah! The Supreme Justice Minister?” - “Damn!” - “That’s the… chief of the Court Ministers, right?” - “Yup… she’s such a pretty woman!” - “Tsk, careful…” - “But she is…”
Vanessa Valyer kept walking, ignoring the heads turning to her, the words of amazement, intrigue, praises, and eyes of idolizing girls and young women. After all, Vanessa Valyer was far away from her 70s, so far she seemed like an angel sprout from anywhere for the sake of the judicial branch.
Without any incidents, she entered the building, silently greeted by the guards, with some people inside waving at her with all the joy and love they could muster from the bottom of their personas. Once she walked past them, their expressions changed, turning solemn.
Going against the president, and for the good of the country, they felt they had changed and could lead Lýmoca back to its right path. How could they not feel compelled to keep an image? Especially with their always direct, blunt, meticulous, and assertive ‘chief’, or ringleader.
***
Capital city center. Still morning.
Onwards to the Blackflower Boutique. Although the morning had progressed, and news of tonight’s trial were everywhere in Proteros, quickly transmitting through the rest of the country via the blessed social media, it remained gray as Fox walked to his boutique.
During this time, counting the gains from the last month, Fox earned 6,846,000 credits. It was mostly thanks to Colmillo, who increased her demand on Fox’s bions, earning him 2,000,000 per month, 4,000,000 up to now. Then, the 123,000 twice from his personal profit, and 2.6 million from the bions sold to the PSD.
Meanwhile, he didn’t get any from the cooperative team assignations, but his boutique earned another 336,000 credits. Minus the mega suite’s monthly cost, he had amassed 11,415,000 credits, and his boutique had 11,840,000 credits in reserves, assuming the other 2 floors weren’t in the bag already.
But as Fox walked to the boutique, the other 2 floors above were still like before. Just then, Fabiola was out, as this was the 6th day of the first month, and its first week, and she had vacations. The academy seemed to do well for her, but not the business.
“What is it?” Fox directly spoke out loud, grabbing her attention while she threw a trash bag. Even though she was all so high for her future and had a notorious status from birth, Fabiola still helped with some tasks, like these.
“Ah! Fox!” Fabiola looked up, surprised. She ran down the steps to him and stopped right in front of him, extending her hand with a little smile. Fox unhesitatingly shook her hand with his gloved one and asked her after seeing her lips. “What’s the matter?”
“Oh, nothing boss…” Fabiola lowered her head after calling him respectfully and looked directly at the ground. Fox frowned a bit, “How did the negotiations go? How’s the money to buy them off?”
“Ah, Fox, they…” Fabiola was first hesitant before remembering the things that happened, and that she was the ‘semi-manager’ of the Blackflower Boutique. She looked up at him, decisively saying, “I was about to have a deal, when news of your investigation spread. Then, today, after their unnecessary delays, they cancelled out while we were having the last review of our matters. Saying stuff about not trusting such ‘characters’.”
“The news from your trial scared them off. They left just a few minutes ago… I was calming down… trying to.” Fabiola let out a silent sigh afterwards, closing her eyes in defeat. Fox looked at her, understanding flashing in his polycoria eyes before placing his hands on her shoulders.
“Eh?” She opened her eyes, looking at Fox with surprise, not expecting this. Fox asked her, almost like a big brother would, or just a brother that cares. “How was your last week of exams?”
“Ah, big bro… I did well, I think?” A proud glint went through her eyes before giggling, “Alright, alright! I scored big time. I am top 3, proud?”
She smiled to cheshire levels, making Fox shake his head with a grin from the left corner of his mouth before nodding, “I’m glad, now I won’t be burdened for re-contracting you into your family-owned business… or at least before I bought it from you.”
“Don’t tease me, I still feel afflicted, okay? Pamper me! You’ve been away for a month…” Fabiola wrapped her arms around his waist, lower waist, as she was a bit short compared to Fox. She didn’t even notice she was hugging him directly, feeling too girly to care. Meanwhile, Fox let her have her moment.
“Okay, so.” Fox addressed her again after a few seconds. She realized with a blink of her eyes and stepped back, looking up at him intently. Fox continued from where he left it, “I trust you were good with the negotiations. Last time should have been enough exposition for you to understand my wishes. So, let me show you another thing… where are the floors’ owners? Still up there?”
“Still up there,” Fabiola gestured with her left index finger up, looking at him, grievous. Fox nodded, saying nothing more as he walked to the stairs leading up. Fabiola turned, watching him go with her resting expression before her eyes suddenly went wide, realizing what was happening. She thought, ‘Big bro is going bully mode?!’
Fox entered the building’s 3rd floor and knocked twice like a normal person would before barging in by breaking the door like a normal person with an inhuman left arm would, shooting it upwards. An old man, maybe in his 100s still, looked up, startled and nearly with a stopped heart.
“Wha- wha- wh- whaaa- what the hell is going on?!” He exasperatedly looked at Fox, who entered and stood 2 meters behind him, wearing a pair of inhuman eyes and a sharp frown. The old man was startled, half-paralyzed.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Step, step, step. “I’m the boutique’s owner. The one you do not dare to make a deal with because of his immoral character.” Fox stepped to the old man and said, letting every word hang down by the old man’s ears. The latter trembled intensely before shouting, “Get back! You are a public figure, you really think you can do this without a care?! You’ll see!”
“And so,” Fox ignored the old man’s words, putting the latter’s mental health in danger. Fox looked at the old man still, “As a Preutian, freed from horrible war environments, suffering all these years of trauma and discrimination, I proudly repudiate people like you. I am also a person with documented mental disabilities. I am so vulnerable.”
Fox arrived before the old man and looked down, letting the wise and proper elderly person look at his polycoria eyes up close. Fox’s voice was a bit hoarse; crude, “So, what is your deal, old man? Take it or leave it?”
“I- I…” The old man frowned, slowly getting used to eyes like those existing, but ever so uncomfortable by being looked at by them, let alone returning the stare. Fox asked without moving an inch from his body, not even his eyes. “Where are your papers?”
“Yes, yes…” The old man scurried away, leaving to get a crooked folder from beneath the counter, where he kept the terms of the agreement. There was a lavish 4.3 million credits written as the amount he’d receive. The old man turned to him, “Should I also lower it? How muc-”
“No. Sign it, and I’ll contentedly leave,” Fox crossed his arms and tilted his head a bit to the left. The old man widened his eyes before nodding, turning to the papers before signing them adequately.
A few seconds later, Fox came out of the 3rd floor and went up to a floor, keeping them in his suit’s jackets. A couple of minutes later, he came out of the 4th floor. He then came down.
Fox reunited with Fabiola, who looked at him like she knew he did wrong, yet only feeling contented for him. She smiled unreservedly afterwards. Fox smirked at the little flower he was corrupting and gave her the documents; well taken care of.
“Fox!” She looked at them and grabbed onto them like prized spoils of battle. Fabiola looked up at him, smiling even more. Fox pinched her cheek, “Careful, if others see you and want to marry you, you’d have to drop out of college with a big belly.”
Fabiola pouted, lowering the documents, but blushing with his antics. “Big bro, come on!… Lui- the President’s reforms last year made the government support those naughty little students under certain circumstances. At most, I’ll just bring more advertising to our boutique and expand my experience in life wider sooner instead of later, no?”
“…” Fox lifted his eyebrows, processing her boldness. Fabiola couldn’t keep the act for even a second before him and fled, running up the stairs before stopping at the glass doors. She turned around to see Fox’s snarky smile, so she stuck her tongue out and shut her eyes.
Fox smirked warmly, just a bit. Fabiola then asked him loudly, “Are you leaving!?”
“I have a date with justice!” Fox replied, nearly cracking. She seemed to think of something and fell silent, before nodding and shouting again, “Then good luck! Thank you! And yes! I just learned what to do next time! Good luck, big brooo!”
Fox left with a smile, keeping his suit on but wishing he could change clothes. If it wasn’t for Nala Loba’s warning and reminder, he would’ve changed already, but then he would have to put it back on again for the high tribune. His image was already torn, he didn’t want to tick himself off.
… Taking a PVT to the HQ, Fox wore a large coat and the factory’s cap, remaining undercover. Inside, he saw Mena, who seemed to know he was coming. She looked at him with wide eyes. Fox looked at her and winked his left eye before saying, “Good seeing you again, Mena.”
“How’s my baby deer Pamela doing?” She asked, softly stopping him at the double doors. Fox turned to her, “Your doe is making money. I think she’s a bit flirty, too.”
“Huh? And you take care of that?” Mena narrowed her eyes. Fox could see the overprotectiveness in her eyes, truly caring for her cousin. Fox suddenly felt like feeling jealous, but he couldn’t. He grinned at Mena, “Nah, but she knows I might replace her if there’s drama or a hellish spawn taking form in her.”
“What words,” Mena blushed a bit before smiling, showing her canines. She walked to him after staring at the side, keeping a distance. “I want you to know we wish you good luck, especially those you talk to, Foxies. The PSD supports you, and your decision.”
“Hm? What decision?” Fox nodded, ignoring her endearment call, but then asked with a clear visage. Mena parted her lips at once, but her instincts kicked in, only making her body open her mouth and pause. Her eyes slowly widened in realization. “Dammit, they don’t tell you anything. Even though it is of utmost important, and to you!”
“You won’t tell me?” Fox smiled and hung his head, swaying his shoulders left and right like a child. Mena crossed her arms, looking at him like a sister whose baby brother betrayed her. Fox grinned from ear to ear before nodding a bit, winking his right eye at her. He turned and went through the doors, leaving Mena as she smiled, looking at his back, before returning to her desk task.
First, Fox went to the doctor, E. Valle. It has been a while, and he wondered what his blood, skin tissue, hair, sperm, tears, and other forms of test products might have aided with the research.
This time, with the doc’s ambitions known to the District, he was allocated a good place, a laboratory. All for himself. The doc could hire workers and other researchers, but he didn’t want to, either because of secrecy, selfishness, or haughtiness. Like thinking only he could resolve it.
Regardless, Fox confidently entered the lab. The doc was resting somewhere, eating a large hamburger, closing his eyes to enjoy each bite. The doc looked up at him after a few consecutive bites and remained calm. Seeing this, Fox blinked before walking over, “Not afraid it could be a big bad competitor coming to take a glimpse and catch you off guard?”
“The only ones who can enter through that door are Butler, representative Captains, and even the president.” The old man shrugged. Fox widened his eyes, a fake reaction. “You modified the PSD’s installed instruments?”
Such a thing was amerciable, and very difficult. The doc, someone who could easily do it so that Fox could come in without sending off alarms, chewed with his mouth sometimes opening wide. Fox walked over and tapped a few things on a table before grabbing a chair to sit before the old doc, saying in an uncaring, lazy tone, “How dare you, doc.”
“You came to see what results have I found?” The old doc said, eating a few times before asking Fox. Fox slowly nodded, “Yeah… it’s your break? Keep eating then, I still have 3 hours before I become an inhumane criminal with an extra inhumane treason charge.”
“Sigh,” the old doc sighed and shook his head. “So much, and so many moving just to play to find the bad traitor among the internal affairs. I don’t see how things like these still remain alive after so long, and they will still, in the future.”
“Well, you won’t be alone, walking into a room full of enemies and people filled with schadenfreude. You got that covered, boy.” The old man said, finishing his hamburger bit by bit. Fox carelessly nodded at the old doc, supporting his body with his forearms on his thighs.
“Okay.” The old doc finished his meal, cleaned his hands brusquely with a towel after putting the wrapper away, and looked at Fox with wide eyes. “Do you want to see what I have gotten? It’s just a small part, but I am already in the process of mass-producing it.”
“Oh,” Fox nodded. The old doc went away to grab a large suitcase. It was also pretty fat. He sat down before Fox again and lied it on his lap before opening it. The old doc was old, and his expressions showed a little struggle, but he still opened the lid with ease.
Fox watched as small syringes, circular boxes, and even pills were revealed inside the suitcase. They were all gray, of a silvery, solid color tone. Fox looked up at the wrinkled face of the doc, who smiled and nodded a few times, lightly.
“Let me show you, can you help me?” The doc motioned. Fox nodded and grabbed the suitcase after the old man grabbed a small circular box out of it, placing the big thing beside his seat. Then, Fox saw the old man bring a scalpel from the side to his.
“We’ll apply it the same way as with the others,” the old doc went on, “First, on my skin. Then, you cut my skin open and treat me. Okay.”
Fox nodded, waiting as the old man lifted his sleeves. He tilted his head, waiting for the doc to say what to do, when he didn’t say anything. Fox looked at the doc’s face, seeing some sweat, and then finally speak, “Dislocate my left hand.”
“…” Fox lifted his eyebrows at a regular pace. After a second, he didn’t give it any further thought and moved his hands. Moving far past the old doc’s reflexes, he grabbed the hand by the thumb with his right and the wrist on the opposite side with his left hand.
“Ah…” The old man slightly cried out in pain before quickly moving his right hand. He opened the lid of the box on the table, trembling, and scooped a thin layer of solid silver. The old doc brought his unmoving hand to his chest and placed the silver cream below the thumb before covering it whole. Then, he circled his wrist before smearing some more at the center of his forearm.
“Aaahh…” The old doc sighed in relief and spread his legs, leaning backwards. His fingertips no longer having any trace of the silver cream. Fox frowned, “Is the pain gone?”
“Nah, it doesn’t have red properties. But it ‘makes up’ for the part you dislocated. It’s like an instrument’s fail countermeasures, like a part of my body extending to cover for the broken or damaged parts. However, it increases the pain all over one’s body for several seconds. The increase is enormous, but it drops afterwards, and lasts for 3 minutes approximately with a portion of the increased pain, but the benefits remain until half a day! Hahaha!”
“!” Fox’s eyebrows jumped. Such a thing would be sought after endlessly. Of course, it couldn’t meet the public just now like it was nothing. It would first go to the PSD’s pockets for its special agents. Nevertheless, it was a great invent.
“Now, my right forearm… break it.” The old doc said as Fox looked at the doc’s hand, which perfectly moved, but the doc grimaced hard when he pinched it strongly. Something like that would only make one frown without the silvery cream. Fox grabbed the old doc’s forearm and looked at him to see if the oldie was sure about this.
The doc had a mad scientist’s face, so Fox mentally shrugged and puckered his lower lip, breaking the oldie’s forearm. Immediately after, as the old man still had the effects from the previous treatment 2 minutes ago, and cried out silently, trembling, Fox scooped some silver.
Fox poured it on the bone he broke, using his middle fingertip, leaving it in like solidifying pasta. He tried amending the bone, which worked, making Fox tilt his head to the right in wonderment. It wasn’t healing, or fixing itself right away, but it would stay like this for half a day, and it only required tormenting pain for a few minutes after a shock of torture.
“Liquids don’t wash it away, unless you use certain acids, of course. But it only disintegrates in the last couple of minutes of its product lifetime.” The doc moved his arm, showing it could move, and his fingers were fine, but he didn’t move too fast. “Any serious hit or reckless movement, for an injury like this, will worsen the injury as if it wasn’t treated… Other colorful medicine won’t work in synergy, at least it won’t be enhanced or deteriorated.”
…